Mountain biking is a popular choice for those seeking health benefits. It's an exciting and accessible activity, selecting the best mountain bikes under $500 that suits your body and fitness level can be challenging.
With the numerous components and available technologies, it's important to be selective with your investments and not overspend on unnecessary features.
With demanding terrains to conquer, mountain bikes have become a popular choice for adventure enthusiasts. Fortunately, you don't have to break the bank to own a reliable mountain bike. For less than $500, you can get a fully functional best mountain bike that will serve you well on your adventures.
In this guide, we have hand-selected the best budget mountain bikes and provided a detailed analysis of their pros and cons.
Best Mountain Bikes Under $500. Our Top Picks after 17 hours of research:
Schwinn High Timber Youth
Why is it better?
94/100
our score
Our Buying Guide
We started with a thorough online research by identifying the best Mountain bikes in our price range. We went through the manufacturers' website of selected and best bike brands to understand the complete process of building the bike and the underlying technology.
We examine the components and materials utilized, as well as the time and effort invested, to ensure the delivery of optimal precision and comfort
We take a comprehensive approach in our reviews, analyzing factors such as bike weight, price range, brake technology, number of gears, and wiring quality. We also consider both positive and negative reviews, bike geometry, and several other characteristics to provide a thorough evaluation..
How We Reviewed
To make sure that you get the best quality MTB, our team dedicated their time to research. We spoke to various local shops selling mountain bikes and also several online MTB sellers.
Beyond the sellers, we also spoke with active riders of the bikes. More than 30 mountain bikes along with their features were researched by our bike experts. They spent over 180+ hours and have completed evaluating these bikes after comparing them with every other product available.
This research effort concluded with the 7 best mountain bikes under $500 and those results are immediately below. Have fun!
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Researched sources
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products compared
Is $500 enough?
Well, for all the serious mountain bike riders and enthusiasts, we would say that mountain bikes below $1000 would be a 'big no' However, in the past few years there has been a huge transition in bike manufacturing.
Big and up-start brands have started designing Mountain bikes using less costly materials. These bike brands have stood the test of time for all kinds of recreational mountain bikers.
Best Mountain Bikes Under $500 For 2023
Schwinn High Timber Youth
- Lightweight 12 inch aluminum mountain frame is the perfect bike for rides around your neighborhood or trails with 24-inch wheels fit riders...
- Bicycle is equipped with an alloy crank that delivers smooth gear changes, requiring minimal maintenance
- Mountain bike has twist shifters with a rear derailleur to make gear changes quick and easy
This mountain bike by Schwinn comes with two kinds of frame materials namely aluminum and steel. The frame made of steel is long lasting and reliable.
When it is coupled with an SR suspension fork, it performs smoothly on and off-road terrains with complete efficiency.
You can hit your bike at high speed with the help of Shimano 21-speed rear derailleur and twist shifters. There are alloy linear-pull brakes which are super responsive brakes. The assembly is totally effortless as it is partly assembled when delivered.
Also Read -Top Rated Schwinn Mountain Bikes – 2023
Quick Facts
- The weight is 34.70 lbs
- The dimensions are 68 inches x 23 inches x 41 inches
- The size of the wheels are 24’’, 26’’, 27.5’’, 29’’
- The rear derailleur is of Shimano 21-5” speed
- It comes with Shimano twist shifters
- The suspension fork are SR
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Huffy Hardtail Mountain Trail
- Lightweight Aluminum Frame: Built with a 17-inch lightweight aluminum frame for durability and ease of maneuverability, perfect for tackling...
- 21-Speed Gear System: Equipped with a 21-speed drivetrain for precise and smooth shifting, offering versatility for climbing hills, navigating...
- Knobby All-Terrain Tires: Features rugged knobby tires designed to grip various terrains, from rocky trails to gravel paths, ensuring stability...
The Huffy Mountain bike comes with a high tensile strong hardtail frame having 21 speed levels and TZ-31 rear derailleur of Shimano. It has tires of 26″/1.95″ which are knobby offering great traction for bumpy rides.
The rear steel linear-pull brakes are also designed in this bike. The handlebars are slightly raised which help in eliminating the back pain of the rider. It has an ATB cushioned saddle which enables customization of the seatpost.
Quick Facts
- The weight is 42.7 pounds
- The dimensions are 55.51 x 9.06 x 27.17 inches
- The frame is made of Steel which is high tensile hardtail
- Has 26-inch wheel size
- Steel high-tensile hardtail frame
- It has a premium padded ATB cushioned saddle
- It has 3-piece crank
- It comes with front and rear steel linear-pull brakes
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Mongoose Impasse Men's Mountain Bike
- Lightweight aluminum mountain-style frame with internal cable routing provides a durable ride through rugges trails, 29-inch wheels, fit riders...
- Effortlessly switch gears with the 21-speed rear derailleur equipped with SRAM trigger shifters
- Mountain bike comes with front and rear disc brakes to deliver all-weather stopping power
Made for all kinds of rough terrains this bike is great for the cost at which it is sold. A light steel frame is very convenient to ride on road riding and rough terrains as well.
It does not compromise in its sturdiness and intensity of mountain roads. It comes with super responsive rear suspension, dual shocks, padded seats and comfortable handlebar grips.
Quick Facts
- The front and the rear system have element suspension
- It comes with twist shifters which is 21-speed SRAM
- It has rear derailleur of Shimano
- It comes with front alloy wheels having quick release front
- There are mechanical disc brakes for both front and rear wheels
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Co-op Cycles DRT 1.2 Bike
Co-op Cycles DRT 1.2 Bike
Why is it better?
If you are a nature lover and want to take up riding trails in the forests then this DRT 1.2 is meant right for you. It is made up of a very lightweight aluminium 6061 alloy frame.
The tubing is paired with a front impact-Absorbing suspension fork of 100 mm. The combination of all makes the performance very smooth providing confidence to the rider.
Quick Facts
- Suitable for men and women
- 21 smooth gears
- Five sizes to accommodate riders from 5’0″ to 6’3” in height
- Free warranty tune-up from REI
- Powerful hydraulic disc brakes
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Cannondale Trail 8 Bike
Cannondale Trail 8 Bike
Why is it better?
This Cannondale Trail 8 has a lightweight aluminum frame making it lighter to ride. It gives the rider a responsive riding because of the 68º slack head tube angle.
It comes with a 7 speed rear cassette being Shimano Tourney’s drivetrain. The steep climbing is easily achievable thanks to the 11-34T range. A 29” wide wheel is fit in the Cannondale Trail 8.
The frame size of the smaller variant has a 27.5” wheel-set. It is designed with Tektro mechanical disc brakes.
Recommended read: Best Bike Inner Tubes Reviewed
Quick Facts
- The durable frame is SmartForm C3 alloy aluminum
- It comes with the SR Suntour fork with 75 mm travel
- The bottom bracket is of sealed cartridge
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Hiland 26/27.5 Inch Mountain Bike
- 【High Tech Frame】Hiland GAMILLE 300 has a durable,ultralight and preservative aluminum frame which is perfect for exploring mountain trails...
- 【Brake&Shifter】Dual mechanical disc brakes provide you better durability and stopping power even in rainday.24 Speed- 3*8 drivetrain provides...
- 【Lock-Out Fork】Front suspension fork absorbs any bumps and dips encountered on your path. When ride on flat road,you can lock suspension fork...
This bike is designed with supreme quality of lightweight aluminum frame having a 27.5 inch front suspension making it very light to ride. Even with this the sturdiness is not lost.
The possibility of corrosion or rusting is reduced to a great level due to its inner cable routing design, which eventually increases the longevity. It comes with a 27 speed gear which is easily compatible with all kinds of terrains.
These gears help in smooth ride transition of the gears in various terrains. It has hydraulic disc brakes which are super powerful which will stop the moment you want it to. The impact-Absorbing suspension fork is great too.
Quick Facts
- It is build with top notch lightweight aluminum durable frame
- The internal cable routing design is very convenient
- The hydraulic disc brakes are great
- It comes with a 27-speed trigger shifters
- The suspension fork has a lock-out mechanism
- The tires are wide
- The riders with 6 feet height can also ride comfortably with its 18-inch frame 19.5-inch frame
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Max4out Mountain Bike
MAFIABIKES KUSH 2
Why is it better?
This is the best bike for the entry level riders if you want to buy a mountain bike. It has great performance with an eye-catching unique spray design.
The rider can easily ride in speed with 26-inch rims. It has mechanical disc brakes and front suspensions which ensures your safety. It is delivered 85% assembled when you receive it.
DIMENSIONS: 49.7'' x 25.7'' x 50.9''
SEAT: Extra-padded with an anatomic design
SEAT-HEIGHT: Tested for users five feet tall and above
WEIGHT CAPACITY: 300lbs
RESISTANCE TYPE: Wind resistance via the frictionless fan
DISPLAY TYLE: High-resolution LCD
NUMBER OF PROGRAMS: 0
PRICE: Check latest price on Amazon.com
What We Like
What We Don't Like
What To Check Before Buying a Mountain Bike?
Frame:
The bike frames should always be light in weight yet durable. Aluminum frame is one such material which provides great durability, sturdiness and is light in weight at the same time. All the above mentioned bikes are of aluminum frame.
Image Source: Amazon
Suspension Type
The mountain bikes come with various kinds of suspensions. The suspension should be such that all the shocks of the ride are absorbed by the bike.
Nearly all the above mentioned products above have SR Suspension for smooth gearing change and shock absorption.
Brakes
You cannot compromise with the brakes at any cost. Generally disc brakes and rim brakes are fit in mountain bikes. But at any given time the disc brakes are the best with superior power to stop.
Gears
The bikes come with various kinds of gear sets. They are based on the kind of bike you choose as it gives you a wide range to shift through. For the beginners higher and steady gearing is best while for the experienced riders lower steady gearing is great.
Wheel Size
The mountain bikes come in various size starting from 26 inches to 29 inches. For new riders 26 inches wheel is best to ensure more control, while for riding on different terrains, 27.5 inch wheel is great.
For the most advanced riders, 29 inch wheels are best.
Tires
Depending on the size of the wheel, you can choose your tire. The tires are equally important as the wheel since they provide the ability to absorb shock to the bike while also providing control grip and stability.
Image Source: Amazon
Common FAQ's
You need to consider following points while buying a mountain bike:
- Use: will you be using the bike for recreational cycling? or would be used for progressing?
- Budget: Bike ranging from $500 to $1500 all have different quality of components
- Size: You need to know the brands size recommendations to find the best size for yourself.
You can choose the best brand from the above mentioned depending on your requirement.
However, Trek,Specialized, and Cannondale are known to be the best bike brands that offer bicycles in the range of $400 to $15,000.
The answer is yes and most of the riders choose MTBs over any other bike type because of its versatility and toughness.
Even before you move out to take a ride ensure that you have proper attire and gears on. Mountain biking is no joke, so protecting from all kinds of injuries is cleverness. Fractures in wrist, knee and collar bones with bruises and scrapes is very common.
Full suspension bike is costlier than the hardtails. You can spend around $1000 to $1500 for full suspension bikes.
Definitely you can as shocks are big time reduced with shock on front tires while riding downhill.
The answer is yes, it burns your belly fat as a lot of fat in general is burnt while riding a bike. Although quads and glute muscles are not actually working out yet fat is burnt which also comprises belly fat.
You easily calculate the length and height of the bike from our Mountain bike size calculator.
A DIY build mountain bike is much more costlier that the pre-build one, also not to mention that it requires more time and effort.
Conclusion
We are glad that we could compile this guide for you. Hope this guide helps you in bike purchase. The Schwinn High Timber Youth is our best pick as it has really great engineering works that have gone into the bike which conquers all the off-road paths.
The suspension is great which can bear medium level to extreme level of jerks and rough terrain along with its supreme braking system.
Make sure to list down your requirements before buying the best mountain bike under $500. Match your requirements with the bike’s features and go for it.
Keep Scaling! Keep Riding!
In a hurry? The test winner after 17 hours of research:
Schwinn High Timber Youth
Why is it better?
94/100
our score
Take a look at this review video to help you understand the bike more.
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Last update on 2025-01-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API